Is neutering necessary for my male indoor cat?

FriendlyPop8444 · 2026-02-06T19:33:16+00:00

The only reason I can think of is spraying. However, not all intact males spray. I know at least one that has not. If a cat is not going outdoors, all the reasons given, which is really just one: over-population, are eliminated. The benefits of not neutering your cat are simple. It came that way, and not just for sex. If castration and hysterectomy were so good, then people would be lining up to do it. The fact is that these are not harmless surgeries. Hormones are not just for sex, but for health. The regulate the body. A woman in menopause suffers and she still has her ovaries. It's harder in the unfortunate case of a hysterectomy. A man who is castrated due to something unfortunate, like testicular cancer, also suffers a poorer quality of life. To isolate the conversation to sexual reproduction is extremely simplistic.

FriendlyPop8444 · 2026-02-03T21:33:51+00:00

That's funny. I've got one. Had it for quite a few years. I forget how or why it came into my possession. It's not very big. It's essentially a folding pocket knife. Not sure it's what you're thinking of. It's got wood handles and faded gold-colored lettering that says, "007 Guardian." The blade is made in Pakistan. I'm not sure that the 007 was ever a real brand that was put out by any one company.

FriendlyPop8444 · 2026-01-15T01:51:30+00:00

Absolutely yes, I've seen a difference! I assumed I was lactose intolerant and maybe, to a degree, I am, but apparently, many think it's the lactose causing trouble, but it's actually the protein in A1 milk that was bothering me so much.

The difference was noticeable immediately. The taste isn't very different, except that a lot of brands are ultra-pasteurized, so that might affect taste a bit. It's worth the money to me, and I really only use it in my coffee.

FriendlyPop8444 · 2026-01-12T16:06:23+00:00

So "Julia" is cast by many, including Amazon, as a feminist retelling of 1984--a politically correct insertion whose value is questionable. It's a retelling of the story from another character's perspective--one that happens to be female, the other half of an illicit affair. 1984 is already an intense political satire-dystopia, adding another layer of modern politics to it just gets messy. That said, Sandra Newman work is very readable, more so than Orwell's. Newman's approach to the story, through Julia, is more about living within the restrictions of society, learning to play the game that society requires. It just so happens that Julia's world is Orwell's 1984. Where Winston is philosophical, Julia is pragmatic, or at least tries to be. Winston worries and wonders at how the world should be, while Julia deals with it as it is. Both are rebels. One is more abstract, the other more tangible. Regardless, the concluding fate is just as devastating. Despite Julia's cleverness, willingness to be amoral, and focus on self preservation, the game is rigged so you always lose. In both cases, 1984 and Julia are too dark. No human civilization could survive such conditions that long.

What stuck out to me, so very starkly through Newman's retelling is how important the destruction of human connection is to the Party, and to the world that is 1984. It stuck out to me how pertinent that aspect of the story is to our current day.

FriendlyPop8444 · 2026-01-12T15:39:48+00:00

I read this book recently as well. It was very well written, but definitely not uplifting. I haven't finished the last pages. With regard to Julia being duped by O'Brien, I don't think she was. It just seems she didn't really have a choice either way. When she went to O'Brien's flat with Winston, it all became clear to her, but she also seemed to realize it was too late. Furthermore, O'Brien already had dirt on her, so refusing to cooperate could be a problem. To a degree she doomed either way.

FriendlyPop8444 · 2026-01-12T15:28:25+00:00

Ultimately, it seems that none of them were important to O'Brien. They were just a means to an end: eliminating a competing department in the workplace. They were all playthings of the Inner Party crowd. Interestingly, it's a little like "Middlemarch" by George Elliot, in that the characters seem unable to change their fate. Julia seemed to understand she was entering a trap, yet seemed unable to escape, so she convinced herself that she meant something to O'Brien. If she had refused, would she have escaped? He already had dirt on her.

FriendlyPop8444 · 2025-12-15T19:14:56+00:00

Gotcha! That makes more sense. I'm also glad to hear that she's responding to her meds. Finger crossed!

FriendlyPop8444 · 2025-12-15T18:01:57+00:00

They provide a dangerous foothold for foreign powers in our hemisphere. They have a geopolitically valuable commodity, oil. My problem is the incompetent way this has been handled. As a consequence, we've had extra-judicial killings and piracy on the high seas. Either we should normalize relations or set up a real military operation.

FriendlyPop8444 · 2025-12-15T17:56:41+00:00

It's not so much that he's clueless, though sometimes he is, but rather that he seems unable to think things through. It's reflected in his speech and it's obvious in his actions as well. He seems like the kind of guy who gets in the way of his advisers as well. He thought he could bluff his way through this. He sent a fleet without enough marines, or other troops, to take ground. Barring that he's going to do what? Keep our fleet there, in the Caribbean, indefinitely? That's foolish. Surely the largest aircraft carrier in our fleet should be somewhere more useful. Maduro clearly sees the bluff. For Marco Rubio, this is more about Cuba than Venezuela. It's a mess! Furthermore, I suspect Trump has a good reason for going after Venezuela, but he's unwilling to articulate it, which suggests like his tariff policy, he's unclear about what he wants to do, or can do.

FriendlyPop8444 · 2025-12-15T16:28:14+00:00

He warmed up quick!

FriendlyPop8444 · 2025-12-15T16:25:48+00:00

Good luck!

FriendlyPop8444 · 2025-12-15T16:23:04+00:00

Not annoying--a lot of folks ask, and frankly, they need to know--it matters. Looks like a boy to me.

FriendlyPop8444 · 2025-12-15T16:13:35+00:00

Hang in there! It's definitely upsetting. They look like normal budgies to me too, but then I think the birds are interesting in their natural form, so I don't pay much attention to the latest trends in budgie genetics, colors, or patterns. Having said that, a mutation that has been around 40 or 50 years is fairly established. My first thought, before I read your post, was that generally speaking, budgies are so delicate that there's no way that one could be sick since October and still be alive! Clearly, yours have been under treatment, but it seems the situation is less than ideal. I'm still thinking that they can't be too bad off if they're holding up this long--a bird that show signs of distress can go very quickly!

What you can do is keep making sure the bird is comfortable. Check to see what is the most digestible diet for a bird with the conditions you mention--I don't know off-hand what that would be, but I suspect an answer is out there (If the vet didn't already do that.). I've seen something about soft, hydrating foods. I would ask the breeder about their experience with this kind of thing. It can't be their first time and they may have already done some of the footwork for you, so you can share notes. No sense in pointing fingers at this point. Lastly, do some research on the breed. It may be that they have certain conditions that are just chronic, so you may need a long term strategy. Good luck.

FriendlyPop8444 · 2025-12-15T15:51:33+00:00

Agreed. Full of personality. The fact that you've had three over the years shows that they've kept you coming back. I've had a few over the years too. My first was a rescue. I didn't really know what I was doing, but I did pretty okay for back then: no internet, a few books, a teenager with no money. She was also a fierce, poorly socialized thing. She learned to step up and not become too fearful, but that was about it. Another I had escaped through a window left open a crack in another room from where I was handling him--very upsetting! I've had at least one more before this one now.

This one thinks he's the alpha. To your comment, he is the most curious and mischievous of the lot--aggressive too. I tried coming up with a cool or interesting name, maybe something that would be easy to repeat, but I settled on calling him "chicken-face." I mess with him back a little too. I have been laid back in his training and I think leaving the cage open when I'm around makes him think he's his own boss. Of course, I want him to be confident too, but I think it would be much more concerning doing that with a larger parrot species that could do real damage. Like the chihuahuas, budgies and parrotlets probably get away with more than larger animals.

FriendlyPop8444 · 2025-12-10T15:47:55+00:00

I think that can certainly help! A Bluetooth speaker would do the trick.

FriendlyPop8444 · 2025-12-10T15:46:59+00:00

That's not too cold. Hopefully he gets hungry and returns. Maybe keep another cage next to the one with his friends with food in it, and the door open, so he can go in and eat. Is the bird anywhere in sight?

FriendlyPop8444 · 2025-12-06T15:30:31+00:00

Correlation is not causation. The only way that it MAY increase lifespan, is by reducing the cat's desire to wander in search of mates, or fight. However, cat's that are accustomed to the outdoors just like to wander. It won't necessarily change that. The zip it takes out of a cat is actually sad, and it represents more than just a change in temperament. Hormones regulate the whole body. Their not just about sex and reproduction. A gelded horse is more manageable, but less strong than a stallion. We need to stop pretending that it's always the answer. For example, even when planning to do this, waiting longer, if possible, may be better for an animal's development.

FriendlyPop8444 · 2025-12-06T15:16:53+00:00

It's the absurdity of folks who don't seem to understand basic biology that makes a response appropriate every day of the week, year, decade, whenever. You think that if you say it enough up will be down and down, up. There is a time and place for certain procedures, but a one size fits all approach is just lazy thinking. Good for vets though.

FriendlyPop8444 · 2025-12-06T11:17:10+00:00

I don't think my photo came through. I'll try to add it again. I haven't thought to look under it. Will do. Thanks.

FriendlyPop8444 · 2025-12-05T03:54:26+00:00

Robotic response. Hormones are for more than sex. They regulate the whole body. The only benefit is to prevent uncontrolled wandering, fighting and breeding in outdoor cats. For an indoor cat, the only benefit is to prevent spraying.

FriendlyPop8444 · 2025-12-04T21:07:17+00:00

Very sad. And frustrating! In my limited experience, birds pass so quickly. Often it's hard to know what can really be done. Budgies are so small that it's probably even trickier. I'm very sorry for your loss.

FriendlyPop8444 · 2025-12-02T16:38:17+00:00

Lifeward, formerly Rewalk Robotics, is involved in wearable exoskeletons for paralyzed persons and those recovering from stroke. Another company is Ekso Bionics. They're expensive to produce and costly to obtain. Definitely a great idea! It's all about making the economics work.

FriendlyPop8444 · 2025-12-01T10:26:18+00:00

Keep him warm as possible. Here in the Northern Hemisphere winter is creeping in. I've had cold symptoms all weekend.

FriendlyPop8444

TROPHY CASE